Detecting apparatus



K ct. 26, 1936. w. PATZER 2,057,737

DETECTING APPARATUS Filed July 9, 1935 I llillllllllllllIIIIIIIIIEBBQ INVENTOR zgmm 7azer UMm f/W Q ATTO N EYS" Patented Get. 20, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 9 Claims.

This invention relates to a structurally and functionally improved detector, and in its more specific aspects aims to provide an apparatus of this character for use either independently or in association with vending machines, for example, of the pay telephone and turnstile types.

It is an object of the invention to furnish a detecting apparatus which will be of extremely compact structure, so that it may either be built into a main apparatus, or may readily be adapted as an auxiliary thereto. Moreover, the present invention concerns itself with a unit which may readily be manufactured at nominal cost, in that it involves relatively few parts, each individually simple and rugged in construction. These partsin accordance with the present invention-may be readily assembled to furnish a unitary structure preferably embodying no moving units, and which structure will operate over long periods of time with freedom from any difliculty.

Another object of the invention is that of constructing an apparatus of this type in which, in the initial set-up of the parts, adjustments may be made so that the apparatus will function perfectly. Additionally, and in operation, it will only benecessary to adjust for wear at very infrequent intervals, such adjustment being capable of being made by relatively unskilled persons, and prolonging the operative life of the apparatus for a long period.

A still further object is that of furnishing a detecting apparatus which, when used, iorexample, with five cent coins, will serve to expeditiously transmit coins of proper value through the apparatus which they are to operate, but which will automatically discard substantially all spurious coins or tokens even where they are of identical gauge and weight when compared with a five cent piece and regardless of whether such spurious coins or tokens are manufactured of lead, steel, brass, fibrous material, or even if they are nickel-plated. Moreover, the present invention contemplates the possibility of associating with the detector an alarm apparatus which may call attention to any attempt to employ spurious coins or tokens, it being, of course, understood that, wl'.ile in the illustrated embodiment there has been shown and described a detecting apparatus primarily for use with coins of the five cent denomination, the parts of the apparatus might be modified so that they may be employed in connection with coins having other values.

With these and other objects in mind, reference is had to the attached sheet of drawing are introduced at the point indicated at 8. At

showing practical embodiments of the invention, and in which- Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus with the outer wall removed to disclose the interior construction; 5

Fig. 2 is an end view of this apparatus;

Fig. 3 is aview similar to Fig. 1, but showin a slightly diiferent form of apparatus; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view taken along the lines 4-4 and in the direction of the arrows as indicated in Fig. 3.

In these several views it will be understood that there has been shown merely the essentials of the apparatus. The specific connection of this apparatus to more or less conventional vending or coin actuating machines has not been illustrated, in that the providing of such connections, or the inclusion of such apparatus within such mechanisms, is readily within the purview of any skilled engineer. Also, and for the same reason, there has not been illustrated the manner in which, for example, slugs or other improper tokens might actuate an alarm apparatus.

Additionally, and from the following specification, it will be apparent that the particular embodiments under consideration deal primarily with coins of the five cent type. Obviously, by suitable modification and rearrangement of the parts, the apparatus might function with coins of different denominations.

Thus, referring primarily to Figs. 1 and 2, the numeral 5 indicates a pair of plates which are spaced apart a distance adequate to allow of the introduction therebetween of a coin. These plates may be of metal or of any other desired material, and may have a configuration consistent with the purpose for which the detector is to be employed. It is the intention that proper coins shall emerge from between the rear edges of the plates at the point indicated at 6, while improper coins, tokens or slugs shall emerge from between the front edges of these plates at the point indicated .at 7. All units (whether they be proper coins, or slugs, or their equivalents) 4) these several points chutes (not shown) may be provided so that ready introduction and/or delivery of the tokens and coins may be effected. Such chutes or equivalent runways will be especially necessary with reference .0 the delivery opening or zone 6, from which coins of the proper type pass to mechanism to be actuated. Of course, the points of introduction and delivery may be varied according tothe arrangement of the interior of the apparatus. 55

However, considering the specific embodiment heretofore referred to, it will be observed that the base of what might be termed the receiving runway and which is adjacent the introductory zone 8, is formed of a bar magnet 9. This magnet has its body arranged in an inclined plane, and at a point beyond the lower end of the mag net there is provided a member ID having a serrated upper edge. The spacing between the upper edge of this member and the lower end of themagnet is sufiicient to allow the passage of members having a diameter equivalent to that of a five cent piece. Positioned adjacent the member ID are horseshoe magnets II, and. beyond these there is mounted a spring l2. Preferably in line with this spring and positioned sumciently below the same to readily allow or the passage of a five cent piece through this zone is a stopmember I 3. This stop-member may be pivotally mounted as at It, and be normally retained against movement as, for example, by a bolt l5. Extending in line with the stop-member is a runway l6, terminating adjacent the delivery opening 1.

With a structure of this nature, it will be found that a true five cent piece introduced at point B will roll rapidly along the upper edge of bar magnet 9, drop onto member Ill, and continue downwardly over the serrated edge oi. the latter. Upon clearing the delivery edge of member ill the coin, under the influence of gravity, will drop downwardly. However, the momentum of this coin will be adequate to assure its freely passing between the spring l2 and the stop member l3. Accordingly it will be delivered past zone 6. In the case of steel slugs or tokens it will be found that these will roll over the bar magnet 9, but

their outward movement will be materially retarded incident to the attractive force which will exist.- Accordingly, when they reach the lower end of magnet 9 they will traverse the rounded end portion thereof and drop in the manner indicated by the dot and dash lines to the lower end of runway l6 and thus emerge at point 1. It has been found in certain instances that the degree of attraction between the magnet and .pslugs of this character is so great that they will qtend'to remain in contact with the bar 9. To

avoid any diiliculties in this connection, a protuberance l'l may be provided as part of the bar or adjacent the lower edge of the latter. The coins will, in their movement around the lower ;end of the-bar, move with suflicient force that when striking this protuberance they will move out'of contact with the bar. Also, this protuber ance. may be so constructed as to embody a relatively small amount of magnetism (i. e., to be somewhat outside of the magnetic field). This will assure a detachment of the steel slug it the latter tends to adhere to the edge of the protuberance. Also, as indicated, the edge of this protuberance may be'sharpened or reduced so that the amount of contact surface between its of the bar magnet to a point substantially adjacent its lower end.

It frequently occurs that persons endeavor to operate vending or coin controlled machines by the use of non-metallic slugs, such as cardboard,

wood, fibre, linoleum, paper, etc. Obviously, slugs constructed of materials such as these would not be affected by the bar magnet 9. However, they would be of far less specific gravity than a five cent coin. Accordingly, they would pass over the bar magnet 9 to the member l0 and move with considerable momentum over the rear end of the latter. Due to the fact that members of this nature are not aflected by gravity to the same extent as a five cent coin, they would not drop to a substantial extent for a short interval after they had passedbeyond the supporting zone afforded by the member ID. Accordingly, they would strike against the spring l2 and rebound from the latter along a path such as that indicated in dash lines to the inclined runway mem-. ber It so that they would again be delivered through zone I.

In the case of soft metal slugs, such as lead, it will be found that they will pass over the bar magnet 9 to the member l0. However, in traversing the serrated edge of the latter, their movement will be retarded. Accordingly, when they pass from the support afforded by this member, they will'have insufficient momentum to pass between the spring l2 and the stop-member l3. Instead theywill strike against this stop-member and rebound along the runway Hi. In fact, in many cases of soft metal slugs the movement of the article will'be retarded to an extent such. that they will not even strike against the upper end of the stop-member l3, but will, in effect, have their forward movement stopped by the time they move out of supporting relationship with the member ID.

' When slugs such as brass,,copper and aluminum are employed, they move from the bar magnet 9 to the member ID. If their movements are not materially retarded by the serrated edge'of the latter, such movements will nevertheless be retarded by their passage through the magnetic field provided by the horseshoe magnets ll. Accordingly, they will not have suflicient momentum to pass through the zone between the spring l2 and the stop-member l3, but instead will strike against the latter and rebound along the runway l6. Incident to the fact that slugs or tokens of this nature will-be retarded although they continue to move downwardly across the member l0 under the influence of gravity, it will be found that nickel-plated slugs, or even a member embodying a combination of metals, will be sumciently affected by the magnetic field to assure its diversion away from the delivery zone or point 6. By having the member l3 adjustable, it is practicable, after the apparatus is assembled, to shift this member to assure results of maximum efliciency consistent with the manner in which the apparatus is mounted. Additionally, and after long periods of time, wear on the part of member l3 may be compensated for by shifting such member.

In the form of apparatus shown in Figs. 3 and 4, there has again been employed a pair of plates I 48 spaced to an extent suiiicient to permit of the introduction of coins, slugs and tokens at point I9, and additionally providing three delivery zones or openings 20, 2| and 22. Adjacent the entrance zone IS a bar magnet 23 is mounted and which magnet may have a protuberance as at 24 and/or be provided with a reduced edge portion. To the rear and adjacent the lower end of the bar 23 one of the plates I9 is formed with an opening 25 which in effect constitutes a fourth delivery zone or point. The second plate may at this point be bent inwardly or provided with a projection as at 26. This projection will act in cooperation with iron and steel slugs to deflect the latter through the opening 25, whence they may pass along a chute (not shown) if this is desired. In other words, the bar 23 functions identically with the bar 9 in connection with iron and steel slugs, in that the latter adhere or remain in contact with the edge of the bar and pass around the lower end of the latter. In so passing around,however, they do not drop as in the case of theapparatus shown in'Flgs. 1 and 2, but are deflected outwardly through the opening 25.. Elements other than iron and steel slugs move downwardly from the lower end of the bar 23 along the path indicated by arrows and contact a striking block 21 which is preferably formed of steel or similar hard metal. In the case of slugs formed of very soft metal, it will be found that they will rebound from the block 21 to an extent such that they do not continue through the apparatus, but rather drop in the manner indicated in dot and dash lines through the zone or delivery opening 22. Even if slugs of this character embody sufficient hardness to rebound slightly from the block 21, they will still emerge through this delivery zone or opening, in view of the fact that at the rear end of this zone there is furnished a stop member 28, to assure this result.

Five cent coins and slugs made of relatively hard metals, cardboard, fibre, etc., will usually rebound from block 21 with suflicient force to strike against block 29, from which they will be deflected downwardly, as indicated by the arrows, to a member 30, corresponding to the member ill, and having its upper edge serrated. Such serrations will coact with slugs having generally soft characteristics but having sufficient hardness to pass zone 22 to slow them down so that when moving out of supporting relationship with member 30, they will simply drop through the zone or opening 2|. In the case of other metallic slugs they will be affected by the horsefield thus produced serving to retard these ele-' ments so that they will drop from the rear edge of member 30 through zone.2|. Of course, in the case of any metallic token or slug which is not formed of pure nickel, a certain magnetic attraction will be set up which will be especially effective, in that slugs or tokens will move through this field at relatively slow speeds whether they are traversing the member II] or 30. Where the specific gravity of the slug and its non-magnetic qualities are sufliciently great to prevent its immediately dropping from the member 30 through zone 2|, this. token or coin will, of course, move outwardly from the member 30. However, in this case it will strike against stop member 32, corresponding to member l3, and will be deflected by the latter to rebound through zone 2|, it being noted in this connection that the rear edge of the member 30 is preferably slightly undercut, as at 33, so as to constitute a deflecting edge or surface.

In the case of slugs formed of cardboard, fibre, paper, linoleum, etc., it will be found that they will move across member 30 and strike against 1 it will be found that the latter will move across member 30, and after it moves out of supporting relationship with such member, will pass through the opening presented between the spring 34 and member 32 through delivery zone or opening 20.

From the foregoing it will be understood that, among, others, the several objects as specifically aforenoted, are achieved. It will be appreciated that such achievement is not predicated upon moving parts which, at best, are extremely objectionable. Also, the apparatus instead of involving a unit which requires a trackway or its equivalent of a length such as to be substantially impossible of commercial application, embodies a path of travel which is extremely short. Accordingly, a small and unitary structure is furnished, which may have ready application of association with an ordinary vending or coin controlled apparatus, and which, in fact, may be built right into such apparatus so that a person using the same will not be aware that a detecting apparatus is present.-

It will, of course, be understood in connection with the structure as shown in Fig. 1 that a shield or guide 8' is provided, extending from a point adjacent the entire zone 8 to the spring l2. In this manner, all danger of a coin simply passing with relatively great speed over bar 9 and thence to the end of the unit, will be prevented. The coin will, instead, strike against the central portion of the partition or guide 8' and will rebound to the serrated member |0.. Thus, it will be slowed up in its travel past the field provided by the magnets so that if it is capable of being attracted, such result will follow with consequent elimination of improper coins and tokens. The same slowing up will occur in the structure described in Fig. 3, and in both of these structures it will be found. that incident to the teeth of the serrated members dirt accumulations will not build up in the guideway to an extent such that the apparatus will become substantially inoperative after a short time interval. As afore brought out, the protuberances of the bar magnets 9 and 23 may be either integral therewith or separate therefrom. In the latter case they may be of non-magnetic material. Illustration in this connection is believed to be unnecessary, in that the requisite structure will be obvious to any one even slightly skilled in the art.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is:

1. A detecting apparatus including a body having an entry zone and a delivery zone, means for guiding a coin element of proper type from such entry zone to such delivery zone, means for automatically diverting metallic and non-metallic elements simulating such coins away from such delivery zone, such latter means including a bar magnet providing an inclined runway for all of such elements, a member spaced from the lower end of such bar magnet to an extent sufflcient to permit of the passage therebetween of improper metallic elements, means providing a magnetic field adjacent such member to retard the passage thereover of metallic elements of improper type, and the upper edge of such member being serrated to retard relatively soft elements passing thereover.

2. A detecting apparatus including a body having an entry zone and a delivery zone, means for guiding a coin element of proper type from such entry zone to such delivery zone, means for automatically diverting metallic and non-metallic elements simulating such coins away from such delivery zone, such latter means including a bar magnet, a supportingmember spaced from such bar magnet a distance sufiicient to allow of the passage of improper elements therebetween and which elements have been attracted by such'bar magnet, horseshoe magnets associated with said supporting member, a spring arranged beyond such supporting member, a striking member arranged below the spring and spaced therefrom a sufiicient distance to permit proper coin elements passing between the spring and striking member,

and a runway extending rearwardly of such striking member for supporting the deflected elements. w

3. A detecting apparatus including a body having an entry zone and a delivery zone, means for guiding a coin element of proper type from such entry zone to such delivery zone, means for I such supporting member having its upper edgeserrated to additionally retard the passage of such elements, a striking member spaced from such supporting member a distance adequate .to allow of the passage of improper elements therebetween, means disposed adjacent such striking member and diverting other improper elements into such latter space, and said latter means being spaced from said striking member a distance suflicient to permit of the passage of proper coin elements.

4. A detecting apparatus including a body having an entry zone and a delivery zone,.means for guiding a coin element of proper type from such entry zone to such delivery zone, means for automatically diverting metallic and non-metallic elements simulating-such coins away from such delivery zone, such means including a bar magnet providing a runway, a striking block beyond such bar magnet and against which certain of such elements impinge, means adjacent such har magnet for guiding elements attracted thereby to an inoperative position, a supporting member to receive elements rebounding from such block, horseshoe magnets disposed adjacent such supporting member for retarding certain improper elements in their passage therebetween, such supporting member having its upper edge serrated to additionally retard the passageof such elements, a striking member spaced from such supporting member a distance adequate to allow of the pas sage of improper elements therebetween, a spring disposed adjacent such striking member and diverting other improper elements into such latter space, and said spring being spaced from said striking member a distance suflicient to' permit of the passage of proper coin elements.

5. A detecting apparatus including a body having an entry zone and a delivery zone, means for guiding a coin element of proper type from such entry zone to such delivery zone, means for automatically diverting metallic and non-metallic elements simulating such coins away from such delivery zone, such means including a bar magnet providing a runway, a striking block beyond such bar magnet and against which certain of such elements impinge, means adjacent such bar magnet for eliminating elements attracted thereby, a striking member disposed beyond such block and spaced therefrom a distance adequateto permit the passage therebetween of'a proper element, a supporting member to receive elements rebounding from such block to a predetermined extent, horseshoe magnets disposed adjacent such'supporting member for retarding certain improper elements in their passage therebetween,, such supporting member having its upper edge serrated to additionally retard the passage of such ele-' ments, a striking member spaced from such supporting member a distance adequate to allow of the passage of improper elements therebetween, a spring disposed adjacent such striking member and diverting other improper elements into such latter space, and said spring being spaced from said striking member a distance sufficient to permit of the passage of proper coin elements.

6. A detecting apparatus including a body having an entry zone and a delivery zone,.means for guiding a coin element of proper type from such entry zone to such delivery zone, means for automatically diverting metallic and non-metallic elements simulating such coins away from such delivery zone, such means including a bar magnet disposed in an inclined plane and adjacent the entry zone of said body, element supporting means disposed below and beyond said magnet and presenting a serrated upper edge arranged in an inclined plane, such edge contacting with elements of insufficient hardness to retard the movements of the elements thereover, permanent magnets secured to and extending outwardly from said body, to provide adjacent said element supportingmeans, a magnetic field retarding the movements of elements of improper metallic constituency, and means providing a pathway along which elements move which cooperate with said bar magnet, or are retarded by said element supporting means, or the magnets situated adjacent thereto.

7. A detecting apparatus including a body having an entry zone and a delivery zone, means for guiding a coin element of proper type from such entry zone to such delivery zone, means for automatically diverting metallic and non-metallic elements simulating such coins away from such delivery zone, such means including a magnet disposed in an inclined plane and adjacent the entry zone of said body, element supporting means disposed below and beyond said magnet and presenting a serrated upper edge arranged in an inclined plane, such edge contacting with elements of insuflicient hardness to retard the movements of the elements thereover, magnets secured to and extending outwardly from said body to provide, adjacent said element supporting means, a magnetic field retarding the movements of elements of improper metallic constituency, the lower end of said magnet being spaced from said element receiving means a distance adequate to allow of the passage therebetween of elements attracted by said magnet, and means providing a pathway along which elements move which cooperate with said magnet, or are retarded by said element supporting -means, or the magnets situated adjacent thereto.

a magnet disposed in an inclined plane and adjacent the entry zone of said body, element supporting means disposed'below and beyond said magnet and presenting a serrated upper edge arranged in an inclined plane, such edge contacting with elements of insufficient hardness to retard the movements of the elements thereover, magnets secured to and extending outwardly from said body to provide, adjacent said element supporting means, a magnetic fleld'retarding the movements of elements of improper metallic constituency, the lower end of said magnet being spaced from said element receiving means a distance adequate to allow of the passage therebetween of elements attracted by said magnet, means for assuring a detachment of elements adhering to said magnet, and'means providing a pathway along which elements move which cooperate with said magnet, or are retarded by said element supporting means, or the magnets situated adjacent thereto.

9. A detecting apparatus including a body having an entry zone and a delivery zone, means for guiding a coin element of proper type from such,

entry zone to such delivery zone, means for automatically diverting metallic and non-metallic elements simulating such coins away from such delivery zone, such means including a bar magnet disposed in an inclined plane and adjacent the entry zone of said body, element supporting means disposed below and beyond said magnet and presenting a serrated upper edge arranged in an inclined plane, such edge contacting with elements of insufiicient hardness to retard the movements of the elements thereover, permanent magnets secured to and extending outwardly from said body to provide, adjacent said element supporting means, a magnetic field retarding the movements of elements of improper metallic constituency, means arranged beyond said element supporting means and spaced therefrom to an extent suiiicient to clear'the path of proper elements passing from said supporting means and engaging elements movingat too great momentum over said supporting means to cause said elements to be thereupon deflected, and means associated with said body to confine to predetermined paths improper elements deflected by said last named means, retarded by said permanent magnets, or the serrated edge of said element supporting means or attracted by said bar .magnet.

WILLIAM PA'IZER. 

